Canadian special forces soldier charged after gun parts, military gear recovered, equipment sold on-line

Photo d’archive d’un véhicule de la police militaire. IAN MACALPINE / POSTMEDIA

A member of Canada’s special forces has been charged with trafficking stolen goods and theft after generators, gun parts, and clothing owned by the military was taken and some sold on-line.

The charges relate to alleged stealing, possession, and trafficking of stolen goods by the accused between early December 2015 and early March 2017 at or near Ottawa, according to the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service. The total amount of goods was approximately $23,500, said NIS spokesman Maj. Jean-Marc Mercier.

Cpl. Pedro Collier, a member of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command based in Ottawa, has been charged with one count of theft over $5000, one count of possession of property obtained by crime, one count of possession of a prohibitive device, one count of trafficking in stolen goods and one count of breach of trust.

The charges have not been proven in court. A court date has not yet been set.

The items were allegedly taken from the Canadian Forces.

The majority of the items, including clothing, a generator, C7 gun parts, batteries, sunglasses and cleaning kits were returned to the military police by the accused after the investigation started, said Mercier. Items, including a GPS, jacket, solar chargers and a watch, among other equipment had been already sold on-line, he added.

About $4,600 worth of equipment was sold on-line.

Mercier declined to say which special forces unit Collier is serving in.

The police investigation began on Mar. 6, 2017 after an individual reported to military police their concern about the source of items being sold online.

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